From WRIL The Big One - Randell Storms - BCDC As we recently reported, 35-year-old Randell Storms was released from the Bell County Detention Center on Friday, November 14th after an OR bond was issued in August for lack of indictment on sexual offenses within the required 60-day time period. Before he could be released, he acquired assault charges against another inmate while in custody. He had to serve that sentence before being released. An indictment warrant was issued f

From the Bell County Sheriff's Department - Christopher Shipman - BCDC A man arrested in Harlan County in August of this year is back in custody after a Bell County Grand Jury indicted him. The investigation that led to the charges against 44-year-old Christopher Shipman of Cumberland, Kentucky was initiated by Sgt. Jody Risner and Detective Hunter Luttrell ofthe Bell County Sheriff's Department. With the assistance of several law enforcement agencies at the time, Shipman was

From WRIL The Big One - Justin Greer - HCDC On Sunday evening November 16, 2025, at 4:20pm, the Harlan Police Department recieved a call from Kentucky State Police Post 10 regarding a man acting very suspicious at Quality Inn. He was believed to have been in possession of a firearm according to the citation. The incident was initially reported as a "stand off." Once on scene, police located 35-year-old Justin Greer at the front desk. Harlan Officer Lunsford states that Gre

From WRIL The Big One - Randell Storms - BCDC WRIL has recieved multiple messages and calls regarding the release of 35-year-old Randell Storms from Bell County Detention center custody after being indicted by a grand jury. Bell County Sheriff Mitchell Williams has released a statement clarifying it was not due to any issues from his department which investigated the case. In a facebook post the sheriff's department states: "The Bell County Sheriff's Department has been made

From WRIL The Big One - Don "Chuck" Treece - BCDC A Middlesboro man charged with and sentenced for sex offenses involving two female juveniles has been indicted on additional sex charges this week. In June of 2022 we reported on the sexual abuse - 1st degree charges lodged against 66-year-old Don "Chuck" Treece after Middlesboro Police Lt./Detective Barry Cowan investigated sex allegations against the man. Lt. Cowan took Treece into custody after he confessed to the crimes. O

From the Middlesboro Police Department - Dianna Loveday - BCDC Just after 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, officers with the Middlesboro Police Department executed a search warrant at 136 North 10th Street, located just behind Food City. This resulted in the seizure of nearly 1,000 prescription pills and a substantial amount of cash. The investigation began after Lt. Barry Cowan received numerous complaints from residents regarding heavy traffic in and out of the r

From the Knox County Ky Sheriff's Department - Jason Gray - KCDC On Friday, November 7, 2025, Knox County Deputy David Dunn responded to a suspicious person complaint at a residence on KY 3438 north of Barbourville. When Deputy Dunn arrived at the residence a male attempted to flee on foot. Deputy Dunn apprehended the man and located a syringe and a plastic baggie containing suspected methamphetamine. 36-year-old Jason Gray of Barbourville, Ky., was arrested and charged with

From WRIL The Big One - On Saturday morning November 8, 2025, at 12:16am Tennessee Highway Patrol responded, along with multiple first responders, to a single-vehicle fatal accident at 1639 Forge Ridge Road in Harrogate. The THP Preliminary report indicates that a 2002 Toyota 4Runner, driven by 22-year-old Katlin Shay Burger of Harrogate, was traveling eastbound on Forge Ridge Road near the 1639 block. As Burger was negotiating a right hand curve, she failed to maintain the

From The Bell County Ky Sheriff's Department - Gabriel Schooler - BCDC Deputy Samson Churchwell states that he was on Exeter Avenue in Middlesboro on routine patrol Tuesday night November 5, 2025, heading toward 38th street. The deputy observed a black mini bike with two people traveling towards his cruiser at a high rate of speed without lights. The deputy turned on the bike attempting a traffic stop, but the operator fled away at higher rate of speed. The bike then came

From Knox County Sheriff Mike Smith - On October 19, 2025, Deputy Thomas was dispatched to a domestic violence complaint at a residence on Henson Hollow Road in Barbourville. After contacting the parties involved, Deputy Martin arrested Stephen Bridges age 43 of Barbourville, KY charging him with Assault-4 th  Degree. Stephen Bridges was also wanted on a Knox County Arrest Warrant for Assault-4 th  Degree and Terrorist Threatening-3 rd Degree. He was lodged in the Knox Count

From Keith West at the General Assembly - Sen. Jimmy Higdon Keith West reporting from the State Capitol in Frankfort states that as the 2026 legislative session inches closer, legislators are beginning to formulate bills that they hope will get a hearing during the session. During the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation, State Senator Jimmy Higdon from District 14 presented a bill that he hopes will save lives on Kentucky's public roadways. The legislation that Senator

From WRIL The Big One - Timothy Hunter Cole - BCDC On Saturday night November 1, 2025, Middlesboro Police Officer Jake Quillen was responding to a call when he saw 26-year-old Timothy Hunter Cole driving a white 1999 Chevy Blazer pulling out from south 40 th Street onto Cumberland Avenue.  The officer states in the citation that Cole almost struck his cruiser in the process. A traffic stop was conducted on west Cumberland Avenue with Cole exiting the Blazer with his hands up

From WRIL The Big One - Eric C. Bauer - BCDC On Friday October 24, 2025, a Pineville man was arrested after being charged with several sexual offenses involving his own family 30 years ago. According to the complaint warrant, on September 24, 2025, KSP Detective Jake Middleton began an investigation into sexual abuse allegations regarding Eric C. Bauer and a family member. The alleged acts were said to have taken place from different time periods of 1990 to 1995, 1993 to 199

From Knox County Ky Sheriff Mike Smith - On September 15, 2025, Court Security Officer James Smith arrested Alyssa Olear age 22 of Middlesboro, KY on a Knox County Arrest Warrant for Leaving Scene of Accident/Failure to Render Aid. She was lodged in the Knox County Detention Center.   September 19, 2025, LT Sam Mullins arrested Kristina M Campbell age 35 of Corbin, KY on a Knox County Bench Warrant for failure to appear on a Leaving Scene of Accident/Failure to Render Aid. Sh

From WRIL The Big One - Marilyn Goldsberry - HCDC On Sunday afternoon October 19, 2025, at 2:48pm, fire units from Loyall and Harlan responded to a call of an apartment fire at 401 Short Street. According to the citation from Loyall Police Chief Charles Bailey, he was met at the residence by multiple people who stated that 53-year-old Marliyn Goldsberry had started the fire. Ms. Goldsberry admitted to the officer that she did set the fire "to save the children." In a Loyall

From WRIL The Big One - WRIL has learned that a man indicted for his role in the death of a 17-month-old child in 2023 has signed a plea agreement offer with the Commonwealth Attorney's office. On May 7, 2025, 45-year-old Harvey Gollahan was indicted by a Bell County Grand Jury for Murder and three counts of Criminal Abuse - 1st degree, for his role in the death of Elena Hembree in July of 2023. July 28, 2023, Elena was taken to the Middlesboro ARH hospital. Due to the extrem

From the Middlesboro Police Department - On Thursday, October 16, 2025, Middlesboro Police Lt. Barry Cowan made contact with two motorcycles at Life Church, just off KY 74. During the encounter, Lt. Cowan located a large quantity of methamphetamine and digital scales on 31-year-old Shawn Hatfield, of Middlesboro. The second individual, 30-year-old Michael Payne, also of Middlesboro, was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine and two buprenorphine tablets. Further

From The Middlesboro Police Department - Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Middlesboro Lt. Barry Cowan conducted a traffic stop that led to the arrest of a local woman on Methamphetamine trafficking charges. The citation stated that during the stop, Lt. Cowan located several grams of Methamphetamine concealed on the passenger, identified as 22-year-old Sarah Green, of Middlesboro. In addition to the Methamphetamine, Lt. Cowan recovered numerous small plastic baggies commonly used

From WRIL The Big One - Tommy Saylor - HCDC On Friday, October 3, 2025, shortly after 8:00pm, Harlan Police responded to a report of an...

From The US Dept of Justice - Eastern District of Kentucky Edward Albert Ernsting - LCCC A London man, Edward Albert Ernsting, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom to 76 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute fluorofentanyl and heroin, as well as a mixture containing methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, on April 9, 2024, Ernsting was found passed out in his vehicle at a gas station, where law enforcement recovered approxi